June 2010
Things we Care about
I really try to be a caring person as I’m sure you do also. But I really had to stop and think as I read through and studied Nehemiah.
Take a moment right now and read Nehemiah 1:1-11!
Now although you may or may not understand all the history or the geography or the calendar or even the political issues of the day, I am sure you understand that something had really truly impacted Nehemiah.
The news he had received from his brother was such that Nehemiah was really overcome. He was so distraught that the bible tells us in vs. 4…
When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.
What did Nehemiah hear that made him so distraught?
He heard God’s people were in great distress and the City of David was in great distress. When I read this I asked myself, “when was the last time I wept, mourned, fasted and prayed for God’s people and His work? Honestly I can’t say I really ever have.
Now don’t get me wrong I have prayed for God’s people and I have fasted at certain times, but I have never been moved as Nehemiah must have been when he heard the news of his people he loved, and the city he loved.
Maybe it is time we re-evaluate what stirs our emotions and our actions with respect to God’s people and His work. Are our emotions stirred at the right things? Nehemiah set out to do something about the situation and he prayed to the God of Heaven to intercede for him to make it possible.
What happen next is history and is there for you to study but the lesson is this…
WE NEED TO BE BURDENED FOR WHAT GOD IS BURDEN FOR
WE NEED TO PRAY FOR GOD TO INTERCEDE FOR US
WE NEED TO CONTINUE IN ACTION FOR THE SAKE OF THE KINGDOM
Peace and Grace
Pastor Bruce